The skinny: This is everyone’s favourite "dark horse," a team that’s in the midst of golden generation of young players who are finding success at top leagues around the world. Despite losing Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke to an Achilles injury before the tournament, the Red Devils are built for a long run at the 2014 World Cup when you consider the mediocrity throughout their four-team group. Algeria, Russia and South Korea are all formidable, but none are expected to make much noise in Brazil the next few weeks. Key for Belgium is winning Group H to avoid a potential second-round matchup with Germany — something that’s more than achievable with the roster Belgian head coach Marc Robert Wilmots has on his whiteboard. Everton’s 6-foot-3 striker Romelu Lukaku is a candidate to win the Golden Boot at this tournament assuming Belgium gets through round-robin play. He’ll look for service from Chelsea winger/forward Eden Hazard, whose trademark ability to weave through traffic with the ball on a string makes him one of the most dangerous players in the tournament when he’s facing goal. In midfield, Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini will help move things side-to-side next to Tottenham’s Mousa Dembele and Nacer Chadli. It’s a group that will be superior to most teams in the competition. Captain Vincent Kompany is among the best centre backs in the English Premier League and will look to stop things up in front of Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. The only road block for this side is that dreaded potential second-round meeting with Germany if things go sideways against hard-nosed squads such as Algeria or Russia. Other than that, the Belgians have one of the most complete squads in the tournament.

SOUTH KOREAã

Best finish: Fourth (2002)

Appearances: 9

Marquee player: Park Chu-Young (Unattached)

Oddsmakers say: 30/1 to win the 2014 World Cup

How they got here: Finished second to Iran in an AFC group containing Uzbekistan, Qatar and Lebanon

The skinny: The South Koreans were an own goal away from having to play a tricky inter-continental playoff against Uruguay to qualify for the finals in Brazil. Had Uzbekistan’s Akmal Shorakhmedov not accidentally headed into his own net, the White Wolves would have progressed to their first World Cup at South Korea’s expense. Instead, the Koreans return for an eighth straight World Cup and will be looking to better their Round of 16 performance from four years ago. And while a return to the quarterfinals or semifinals is likely out of reach, the South Koreans, as they do every tournament, will surprise somebody. Former Arsenal striker Park Chu-Young provides the biggest scoring threat up front. With good size and an ability to pick out passes in tight spaces, Park also likes to pick up possession 30 metres from goal before making things happen in and around the area. South Korea’s midfield isn’t exactly stacked with known commodities, but Bolton’s Lee Chung-Yong has an immense amount of experience in England’s top leagues and will cause Algerian and Russian defenders fits. He’s good in space and prefers to play provider when he’s in good position along the edge of the 18-yard box. The rock at the back is centre back Kwak Tae-Hwi. At 32, the South Korean captain is currently playing in the Saudi Premier League, which leads most to believe the Asian side’s back four will be susceptible. As always, though, the South Koreans will be technically sound. They’ll make their competition beat them while giving little away. In a group with one clear frontrunner, South Korea is just as capable of going through as Algeria or Russia.

How they got here: Finished top of its CAF qualifying group before beating Burkina Faso in a two-leg playoff

The skinny: The Algerians were a goal away from advancing in 2010. Had things fallen their way, the North Africans, whom you’ll remember played England to a goalless draw, could have progressed to the second stage. Still, most pundits aren’t giving the Fennec Foxes a chance in hell of advancing. They should. Quite frankly, Algeria’s roster isn’t too shabby. Unlike last time around, Bosnian manager Vahid Halilhodzic has named an entirely European-based roster, featuring three talented strikers who have the ability to break any of the other three teams in this group. Dinamo Zagreb striker El Arbi Hillel Soudani has an incredible strike rate at the international level and has had success in Croatia’s top flight. He’s big, strong and has an extremely good work rate to complement a desire to get on the end of crosses. He plays like he’s looking to prove something every time out. Sporting Lisbon’s Islam Slimani is considered the team’s top player and Porto’s Nabil Ghilas has had some success in Europe. So, attacking won’t be an issue for this side in Brazil. That said, the team’s new manager has promised Algeria won’t sit back as it did in 2010, meaning a willingness to get forward will likely leave its vulnerable back four in trouble at times. Although it’s difficult to put much stock in pre-World Cup friendlies, Algeria recently topped Slovenia 2-0 before beating Armenia and Romania, two solid UEFA sides that are on the cusp of qualification every four years. They’ve lost just one of their past 12 matches and shouldn’t be considered long shots to advance from one of the lighter groups in the tournament. Either way, a second-round matchup with whoever finishes at the top of Group G will see the second-place finisher here — yes, maybe Algeria — bounced in the Round of 16.

RUSSIAã

Best finish: Group Play

Appearances: 3 (As the Russian Federation)

Marquee player: Aleksandr Kerzhakov (Zenit St. Petersburg)

Oddsmakers say: 100/1 to win the 2014 World Cup

How they got here: Finished atop a UEFA qualifying group, one point ahead of Portugal

The skinny: Former England manager Fabio Capello has named a Russian side entirely made up of domestic players for Russia’s third post-Soviet Union-era World Cup. The Russians have played beneath themselves at the previous two editions, but are once again back following a solid qualifying campaign that saw them knock off Portugal in Moscow. The Russians share similarities with Greece — a solid side that’s going stay strong at the back first before going forward. The five goals the Russians conceded during qualification is proof of that. It could have something to do with the fact the team’s back four is extremely familiar with one another. The team’s most experienced players — goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev and defenders Sergei Ignashevich and Vasili Berezutski — all play for CSKA Moscow. Zenit St. Petersburg striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov does most of the damage for the Russians up front. Although he’s diminutive, he’s lightning fast and scores every other game in the Russian top flight. In terms of results, Russia is unbeaten in four 2014 friendlies, most recently topping Morocco 2-0 while conceding just once along the way. Look for Russia to be one of the stingiest teams in the competition. It has a reputation for being hardened while at the same time possessing a few players who are capable of unlocking opposing defences. Behind Belgium, the Russians are my pick to get out of this group, if not win it. They’re also fortunate to be playing group games in the south of Brazil. Curitiba, where Russia will play Algeria on the final day of group play, won’t be nearly as warm as some of the northern cities in Brazil, which should allow the Russians to play the brand of soccer that saw them stroll through qualifying the past few years.